Southern rock icons Van Zant are pleased to release today the new single and official music video, “Awesome God”, taken from their latest album, “Always Look Up”, out now via Frontiers Music Srl.
Commenting on the track, Donnie stated: “We have a song called ‘Awesome God’ and it was actually written in my mind about Johnny, and from that moment on, he sort of gave his life to Jesus and he became a Christian. God saved him. He got baptized and I could see the spirit of the Lord [in his life]. He sounded different to me. Again, as Christians our job is to go out and to shout to the world with God’s truth”.
Order “Always Look Up” HERE
The new album from Johnny Van Zant (Lynyrd Skynyrd) and Donnie Van Zant (.38 Special) is their first in nearly two decades, and the first to be focused on Christian music, while holding firm to their southern rock roots.
The Van Zant musical dynasty built its foundation firmly on family. Donnie Van Zant co-founded .38 Special and brother Johnny Van Zant is the current lead vocalist for Lynyrd Skynyrd after the passing of their brother Ronnie Van Zant, who fronted and co-founded the iconic Rock and Roll Hall of Fame rock band.
But throughout their four decades of climbing the southern rock and country charts together and separately, faith has stayed just as important of a factor in the equation, so much so that the guys decided to finally share their inspirational side with the upcoming new album.
“This has been on our bucket list for quite some time to do a gospel record,” says Donnie of the sessions that started during the pandemic. “We’re both big believers in Jesus Christ, so that’s really how it started.”
In spite of their enormous successes, much of what makes Van Zant so relatable is the fact they’ll be the first to admit their flaws and struggles.
“I’ll be honest with you, the devil was my best friend at one time,” says Johnny. “I’m not gonna lie about that and there ain’t too much that I didn’t try over the years, but I always kept hearing our dad speaking the Bible [in my mind]. Our dad should’ve been a preacher, because boy when he started talking the gospel, you didn’t get up and move. Of course as kids, I think we listened to half of it and tried to consume what we could, so that was always in the back of my head. I always believed in Jesus Christ, but I wasn’t saved and I felt like I had my personal connection, just like the song ‘It’s Up To You’ that’s on this new album. Over the years, that voice of my dad was reminding me to try to be a better person. I made lots of mistakes, lots of things that hopefully I don’t get to the pearly gates and they’re closed for me. I’m trying to get through them now!”
Adds Donnie: “We’ve tried our very best to just write about truth, about people, about problems and situations and just try to be true to ourselves. We don’t write nothing that’s B.S. We try to touch people emotionally and spiritually. If we can do that, I think we’ve done our jobs.”
“Always Look Up” Track Listing:
1. Awesome God
2. Stand Up
3. Warrior
4. There You Are
5. Speak His Name
6. Why God Brought Me Here
7. Praying
8. It’s Up to You
9. Holy Moment
10. Leaning on the Cross
11. Jesus Christ
